Perambulator



Patented Apr. 4, I899.

/ I flttorn eys G. D. LEADBETTER.-

PEBAMBULATOR.

(App! cat on filed July 8 1898 E S W 2 w .-(No Modal.)

iEORGE D. LEADBETTER,

PATENT rricia OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PERAMBULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,503, dated April 4,1899. Application filed July 3, 1898. Serial No. 685,414. (Ndmodeld f0ztZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. LEADBET- TER, a citizen of Canada,residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vayue, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in' Perambulators; and I dodeclare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specifica tion.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in perambulators;and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully set forth and pointed out particularlyiin the claims.

The object of the invention is to providea folding perambulator ofstrong, simple, and inexpensive construction, in which the arrangementis such as to enable the perambulator to be folded so as to occupy but asmall space when not in use, and a further arrangement whereby theperambulator may be readily unfolded to place it in a transportingposition, and in which position it affords a firm and secure seat forthe occupant; This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspectiveview of myimproved perambulator. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section throughthe perambulator, showing by dotted lines the parts in their foldedposition. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the pivotally-hung spidercarrying the forward wheels and having a central loop through which thelocking-arm pivoted to the rear axle is adapted to pass.

Referring to the letters of reference, A designates the uprights orhandles, which constitute the main frame of the perambulator. The lowerends of said uprights enter suitable sockets a, from'which extend therearwardl y and downwardly curved arms B,adapted at their lower ends toembrace the rear axle l), which is journaled therein and which carriesat its opposite ends the large transporting-wheels B. Projecting fromthe sock= ets a are the brackets 0, having the forwardlyextending arms0, tothe forward ends of of said seat is pivoted, as at 1".

which the upper legs (1 of the spider D are pivoted,as at c. Thelowerlegs f of said spider extend downwardly from the body thereof andcarry the forward axle g, whiclnis journaled therein and carries at itsopposite ends the forward transporting-wheels E. The body of the spiderD is provided with a rearwardlycurved loop 6, adapted to receive theforward end of the curved locking-bar hand having a transverse pin '5standing across the lower portion of the opening of said loop. Thecurved locking-bar his pivoted upon the rear axle and extends forward,its outer free end passing through the loop e and havinga notch ctherein, adapted to receive the pin t to maintain the forward wheels Ein their extended position.

Extending from the brackets c are the up rights m,having at their upperends the brack-- ets 0, provided with the rearwardly-extendingpartiallyclosed eyes 0, embracing the uprights A. Pivoted to the forwardends of the brackets 0 are the arms F, the forward ends of which arepivoted to the upper ends of the vertical bars G, which depend on eitherside of the seat H, and to which the outer edge The lower ends of saidbars G extend below said seat and support the foot-rest I, which ispivoted at s thereto. Extending rearwardly from said foot-rest is ashort arm 5, which is connected by means of a chain 6 with the forwardend of' the locking-bar 7b. The rear edge of the seat is provided with adepending ear a, which is pivoted at a" to the bracket 0, therebypermitting said seat to fold upwardly against the uprights A.

The forwardly projecting ends of the arms F are provided with a loop u,through which astrap '0 may be passed to retain the occupant upon theseat of the perambulator. A short end 1] of said strap is adapted toengage a screw 0 on one of the uprights A to retain the parts in afolded position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Projecting upwardly from each of the arms 0 is a stud O, which engagesthe bottom of the seat to maintain it in an extended posi tion, as shownin Figs. 1 and2, serving as a firm support for said seat when extended.

When it is desired to fold this perambulator so that it shall occupy acomparatively small space when not in use, the operator raises the outerend of one of the arms F, causing the other arm'to swing upward, at thesame time carrying upward the bars G on the outer edge of the seat H, sothat said seat will fold back against the uprights A, as shown bydottedlines in Fig. 2. As the bars G are carried upwardly the foot-rest I isalso raised, causing the chain t, attached thereto, to also raise thelocking-bar h, so as to disengage it from the pin 73. As said bar in itsupward movement engages the upper portion of the loop (2 of the spider Dsaid spider is caused to swing inwardly on the pivot 0', so that thesmall forward wheels E will lie between the rear wheels B, as also shownby dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby materially reducing the spaceoccupied by the perambulator, en abling the perambulator to be readilycarried by hand into a street-car or other public conveyance or placedentirely out of the way when not in use. When desired for use, the strapend 1) is disengaged from the screw Q1, permitting the arms and seat todrop to their normal position, (shown in Fig. 1,) releasing thelocking-arm h, so that the spider carryin g the forward wheels e mayswing outwardly until the pin c' in the loop of said spider enters thenotch e in the outer end of said locking-arm, when said wheels arelocked from further outward movement and the device is in position forservice, as shown by solid lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

By reason of the fact that the small wheels extend forward nearly inline with the outer edge of the seat all liability of the device to tipforward is obviated and the weight is more equally distributed betweenthe front and rear wheels, enabling the child to climb into the seat bystepping upon the foot-rest without causing the perambulator to tipforward. The placing of the large wheels behind, so as to receive thegreater portion of the weight, causes the perambulator to run moreeasily and greatly facilitates passingover an elevation, such as a stepor the curb, as the perambulator may be tilted backward upon the largewheels sufficiently to place the forward wheels upon the elevation, whenthe perambulator may be passed easily over.

1. In a perambulator, the combination of the uprights, the large wheelsjournaled at the lower ends of said uprights, the small wheels pivotedin front of said large wheels, the pivoted seat and pivoted arms, thepivoted bar adapted to lock the forward wheels when extended, and meansconnecting said pivoted seat with the free end of said locking-bar.

2. In a perambulator, the combination of the uprights, the large wheelsjournaled at the lower ends of said uprights, the forwardly eX- tendingarms mounted on said uprights, the forward wheels journaled in a framepivoted to the forward end of said arms, the seat pivoted to foldupwardly, the studs on said arms adapted to support said seat whenextended,

and means for lockin g the frame carrying the forward wheels to maintainsaid wheels in an extended position.

3. The combination of the uprights, the large wheels journaled to thelower ends of said uprights; forwardly-extending arms mounted'on saiduprights, a spider-frame pivoted to the outer ends of said arms, theforward wheels journaled in said frame, a pivoted locking-bar lying in aloop in said spider frame and having a notch adapted to engage a pin insaid loop, a pivoted seat and pivoted arms, studs engaging the underface of said seat to maintain it in an extended position, bars pivotallyconnecting said pivoted arms and said pivoted seat, a foot-rest on thelower ends of said bars, and means connecting said footrest with theforward end of said locking-bar.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE D. LEADBETTER. \Vitnesses:

E. S. WHEELER, M. A. MARTIN.

